The Mountain Railways of India are railway lines that run in the mountain areas of India. The term mainly refers to narrow-gauge railways in specific locations, but it can also include some broad-gauge railways in mountainous regions.
Three railways—the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway, and the Kalka–Shimla Railway—are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the name "Mountain Railways of India." Two other railways, the Matheran Hill Railway and the Kangra Valley Railway, are on UNESCO’s tentative list of potential World Heritage Sites. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway is the only rack and pinion railway in India. Other narrow-gauge railways include the Kangra Valley Railway and the Matheran Hill Railway.
The Jammu–Baramulla line, completed in 2025, uses broad-gauge tracks. Mountain railways, such as the Chota Char Dham Railway, are currently being built. Other railways, like the Bhanupli–Leh line and the Sivok–Rangpo line, are in the planning stages.
World Heritage Site
Three railways in India—the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway, and the Kalka–Shimla Railway—are named a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the title "Mountain Railways of India." The Matheran Hill Railway and Kangra Valley Railway are listed on UNESCO's tentative list for possible future recognition. UNESCO describes the Mountain Railways of India as "outstanding examples of creative and clever engineering solutions for building effective rail links through difficult mountainous terrain." The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway was honored first in 1999, followed by the Nilgiri Mountain Railway in 2005, and the Kalka–Shimla Railway was added in 2008. These railways meet UNESCO's World Heritage Site criteria ii and iv, which are part of the Asia-Pacific region.
Railway lines
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is a narrow-gauge railway with a track width of 610 mm (24 in). It connects New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling, a hill station and tea-growing area in East India. The railway route is 88.48 km (54.98 mi) long. The town of Siliguri, where the railway begins, was linked to Calcutta by train in 1878. Before the railway to Darjeeling was built, people traveled by horse-drawn carts on a dusty road. Work on the railway started in 1879 after a committee led by Ashley Eden recommended the project. The railway opened in stages and was completed by July 1881. Early trains used small four-wheel carriages, which were later replaced with bogie carriages. Over time, the railway was improved to make its steep slopes less steep and its curves easier to navigate.
The railway is operated by the Northeast Frontier Railway of Indian Railways. It begins near sea level at Siliguri and climbs to over 2,100 m (7,000 ft) at Darjeeling. The highest point is at Ghoom station, 2,258 m (7,408 ft). The railway has steep slopes and sharp turns. Originally, the steepest slope was 1 in 36, and the sharpest curve had a radius of 15 m (50 ft). These were later adjusted to a steepest slope of 1 in 23 and a curve radius of 21 m (69 ft). The railway includes four zigzag paths and four loops. Trains are pulled by steam engines and travel at speeds of 20–25 km/h (12–16 mph). Although the railway was built in the 19th century to transport people and goods, it now mainly serves tourists. The railway has signs at key spots, such as "Agony Point" and "Sensation Corner," and features spiral tracks that offer views of valleys below.
The Nilgiri Mountain Railway is a 45.88 km (28.51 mi) single-track railway with a 1 m (3.3 ft) wide gauge. It connects Mettupalayam to Udagamandalam (Ooty) in Tamil Nadu, India. The railway crosses the Nilgiri Hills, rising from 326 m (1,070 ft) to 2,203 m (7,228 ft). Before the railway, travel was slow and difficult, relying on bullock carts and horses. Plans for the railway were first made in 1854, but construction began in 1899. The railway initially reached Coonoor and was extended to Ooty in 1908. It was first operated by the Madras Railway and later became part of the South Indian Railway Company. Today, it is operated by the Southern Railway zone of Indian Railways.
This railway is the only rack railway in India, using an Abt rack system that requires special steam engines. The rack rail section begins at Kallar station and ends at Coonoor. In addition to regular traction, the train uses pinions on the track bars for extra power. The railway has four brakes: two hand brakes and two air brakes. Hand brakes are used for moving trains, while air brakes are used on steep slopes. One hand brake works on wheel tires, and the other works on grooved pinion axles. The railway has an average slope of 1 in 24.5, with the steepest slope at 1 in 23. It is one of the steepest railways in Asia. The line includes 250 bridges, 15 road overpasses, and 16 tunnels. The longest tunnel is 97 m (318 ft). The uphill journey takes about 290 minutes (4.8 hours), while the downhill journey takes 215 minutes (3.6 hours). Heavy rainfall during monsoons often causes delays.
The Kalka–Shimla Railway is a narrow-gauge railway with a track width of 762 mm (2 ft 6 in). It runs 96.6 km (60.0 mi) between Kalka and Shimla in Himachal Pradesh. The railway climbs from 656 m (2,152 ft) to 2,076 m (6,811 ft) in the Siwalik Hills. Before the railway, the only way to reach Shimla was by village carts. Construction began in 1898 by the Delhi–Ambala–Kalka Railway Company and was completed in 1903. The railway is now operated by the Northern Railways of Indian Railways.
This railway has 103 tunnels and 864 bridges. Many bridges are multi-arched, like Ancient Roman aqueducts. One bridge spans 18.29 m (60.0 ft) and uses steel girders and trusses. The steepest slope is 1 in 33, and the railway has 919 curves, with the sharpest at 48 degrees (radius of 37.47 m (122.9 ft)). The longest tunnel is the Barog Tunnel (No. 33), 1,144 m (3,753 ft) long. The railway includes loops at Taksal, Gumman, and Dharampur to help achieve the required slope.
The Matheran Hill Railway is a narrow-gauge railway with a track width of 610 mm (2 ft). It runs 19.97 km (12.41 mi) between Neral and Matheran in Maharashtra. Located in the Western Ghats, the railway was designed by Abdul Peerbhoy and funded by his father, Adamjee Peerbhoy. Construction began in the early 20th century. The railway has 18 tunnels and 23 bridges. It was built to help people travel to Matheran, a hill station. The railway is now operated by the Central Railway.
The 325 km (202 mi)-long Jammu–Baramulla line is a broad-gauge railway connecting the Kashmir Valley to Jammu in Jammu and Kashmir. The railway starts at Jammu Tawi and connects to Baramulla through Srinagar. It crosses the Pir Panjal range of the Himalayas, requiring many tunnels and bridges. The line includes the Chenab Rail
Proposed lines
The Srinagar–Leh railway line is a planned route that would connect Srinagar in the Kashmir valley to Leh in the Ladakh region through Kargil. This project was named a national project in February 2013. Another planned railway, the Bhanupli–Leh line, would link Bhanupli in Punjab to Leh. If built, this line would be the highest railway in the world.
The Chota Char Dham Railway includes two Y-shaped rail systems. The first system has two routes: the Doiwala–Dehradun–Uttarkashi–Maneri Gangotri Railway, which is 131 kilometers (81 miles) long, and the Uttarkashi–Palar Yamunotri Railway, which is 22 kilometers (14 miles) long. These routes connect at Uttarkashi, forming the "Y" shape. The second system includes the Karnaprayag–Saikot–Sonprayag Kedarnath Railway, which is 99 kilometers (62 miles) long, and the Saikot–Joshimath Badrinath Railway, which is 75 kilometers (47 miles) long. These routes connect at Saikot, forming the "Y" shape. The Rishikesh–Karnaprayag Railway is currently under construction and will extend the existing Rishikesh railway station to Karnaprayag, connecting to the above system.
The Sivok–Rangpo railway line is a planned route that would link Sevoke in West Bengal to Rangpo in Sikkim. This line would connect Sikkim to the Indian Railway network and is expected to be extended to Gangtok and possibly the India-China border.